Fallen - Are Standard Fins Too Fragile?

[SeenAGreatLight]

Hey all,

I ordered a combat-ready Fallen, but with the huge backlog, I've been considering switching to standard if it would happen to come into stock first.  Do you think the standard Fallen is too fragile in general, not just for saber duels?  Are the fins repairable if they come off?

Thanks,
SeenAGreatLight

[GeneralMalice-]

I have a pretty good review of both fallens on my YT in my banner. But the non battle ready are pressed fit in where the battle ready is secured with bolts

[SeenAGreatLight]

Thanks, I'll give it a look!  What is a pressed fit, if I may ask?

[Jedi_Phoenix]

Thanks, I'll give it a look!  What is a pressed fit, if I may ask?

The plates are just snapped on to the hilt; there are no fasteners or adhesive holding them on there.  Fine for display purposes, but real easy to pop off if you're dueling someone.  With the combat emitter, they're bolted on, which makes them more durable; the black stripes are to cover up the bolts.  Personally, I think the combat style is a better look anyway.

[BaliMawr]

Hey all,

I ordered a combat-ready Fallen, but with the huge backlog, I've been considering switching to standard if it would happen to come into stock first.  Do you think the standard Fallen is too fragile in general, not just for saber duels?  Are the fins repairable if they come off?

Thanks,
SeenAGreatLight

Personally, I wish I had gone with the standard emitter, in retrospect.  But here's what I'd do:  pry off the plates and tap out the emitter body for an appropriate sized counter-sunk, fine thread, stainless machine screw.  Drill and countersink the plates appropriately (they are plenty thick).  Drill out the spacer blocks for clearance, and screw the whole thing back together.  I got the combat ready emitter for structure, but the colored accents accentuate the WIDTH of the thing, rather than the LENGTH, which tends to make it look a bit clunky, in my opinion.

[BaliMawr]

Thanks, I'll give it a look!  What is a pressed fit, if I may ask?

They are held in with metal pins that are very close to the diameter of the holes they are going through.  A mechanical or sometimes a hydraulic press is employed to force the pins into the holes.  So it's a friction fit, or interference fit.  VERY tight, but if they get knocked loose, there is no easy way to tighten them.  The advantage is that there is no visible fastener on the outside, since the pins don't need a "head" on them.  As I said earlier, you could press or drill the pins out and tap the holes for countersunk or domed-head screws.  Heck, a black-oxide button-head might even be a nice accent.